Manchester City will be buoyed by a fresh buzz ahead of Saturday's visit from Stoke if news of a genuine interest in Lionel Messi has any truth in it.

Spanish media outlet Marca claims City are prepared to pay 400m euros (around £360m) to try and sign the Barcelona star in January.

Not quite the new left back the league leaders need, but you won't find too many of their fans complaining if it's Messi that tips up instead in three months time.

The Argentine star is still to sign a new contract at the Nou Camp and that's why City believe they can lure him to the Blue Camp... or he could just be using them to get a better deal at Barca of course.

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One star Stoke City do have to contend with this Saturday is Kevin de Bruyne, but there was a moment when he thought he might not make the fixture.

The Mirror is reporting that Man City's Belgian star feared injury after taking to what he said was the worst playing surface he's seen since the age of seven when turning out in Bosnia for a weekend World Cup qualifier.

Elsewhere today, The Sun says Arsene Wenger has given Jack Wilshere a December deadline to prove his fitness and so extend his Arsenal career.

Back to the Spanish media and they report that Barcelona like the look of Manchester United's Anthony Martial... not quite a replacement for you-know-who if he ever did make that move to the Premier League.